Ammonium Sulfate: [Concept, Operation and Application]

What is ammonium sulfate?

Ammonium sulfate or ammonium sulfate constitutes a salt formed by reaction between Ammonia and Sulfuric Acid, used in a wide range of crops.

It can be found forming white to beige crystals or granules and its use offers agronomic advantages of great importance for alkaline soils and in soils that present sulfur deficiency.

The density of ammonium sulfate is between 0.8 and 1.1. It is soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol. It decomposes on heating to 235ºC and in contact with alkalis, it releases ammonia.

The slightly acidic ammonium sulfate reaction helps to increase the availability of micronutrients in the soil. The particle size can vary depending on its purpose.

The use of ammonium sulfate has been decreasing over time but it is especially valuable where both nutrients, Nitrogen (N) and Sulfur (S), are required.

Much of the current demand for this product is satisfied by obtaining it as a by-product of various industries. Ammonium sulfate (sometimes abbreviated as SA or SAM) has been produced for more than 150 years.

How does ammonium sulfate compost?

Due to its capacity and effectiveness as a fertilizer, ammonium sulfate is used to provide nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) in order to satisfy the nutritional requirements of growing plants.

Another use that is often given to ammonium sulfate is in flooded soils for rice production, where nitrate-based fertilizers are a poor alternative due to denitrification.

It is also applied in post-emergent herbicide solutions to improve their effectiveness in weed control. This practice is effective when the water used contains good concentrations of calcium , magnesium, or sodium.

Once applied to the soil and in the presence of moisture, ammonium sulfate dissolves quickly. It is important to know that ammonium sulfate must be applied throughout the crop cycle, in the most fractional way possible, distributing the total dose according to the needs curve of each crop.

For better use as fertilizer, it is advisable to prepare a stock solution instead of directly diluting the product in the irrigation water and then applying it according to the indications of the experts.

What crops can benefit from ammonium sulfate?

Among the crops or crops that can benefit from the use of ammonium sulfate are:

Industrial crops

Tobacco, beets , sunflower, cotton, sugar cane.

Small and large-scale garden crops

Tomato , pepper , potato , artichoke , lettuce , carrot , cucumber , onion , melon , strawberry and asparagus , BRO col i et al.

Vineyards

Grape.

Citrus crops

Oranges , tangerines, lemons .

Fruit crops

Peach , almond , apple , pear.

Cereals or grasses

Wheat , oats , sorghum, barley, rice, and corn .

Olive

Olives

How and when should we use ammonium sulfate?

Ammonium sulfate is used in those plants or crops where it is necessary to add nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) to satisfy the nutritional requirements that contribute to their growth.

The recommended amounts to use of this fertilizer depend on the crop, phenological phase, soil and water conditions.

Researchers and experts emphasize that the dose to be used can be 1-1.5 kg / 1000 m2 for horticultural crops and irrigation. For a calculation of 10 kg / ha, they would contribute 3.15 UFN and approximately 2.52 meq / L NH4 +, with a conductivity of the fertilizer of 0.32 mS / cm.

For any horticultural crop (tomato, pepper, melon, watermelon, cucumber, etc.) a generic solution for applying fertilizers, by irrigation, would be the following: Calcium nitrate: 20 kg / ha: Phosphoric acid: 5 kg / ha (3 , 1 liters); Potassium nitrate: 20 kg / ha; Magnesium sulfate : 5 kg / ha.,

After application to the soil, ammonium sulfate quickly dissolves into its ammonium and sulfate components. If it remains on the soil surface, ammonia can be susceptible to gaseous losses under alkaline conditions.

The ammonium sulfate must be incorporated into the soil prior to irrigation or precipitation that is known.

What are the advantages of applying ammonium sulfate to crops?

Among the advantages of the crop to which ammonium sulfate is applied are:

Great versatility

To apply both in spring and summer.

An inexpensive source of nutrients

Ammonium sulfate provides 45 fertilizer units (UF) essential for plant growth: 21% N + 24% S (or 60% sulfur expressed in its oxide form SO3).

Use on all types of floors

Very little risk of nitrogen losses due to ammonia volatilization.

Respect for the environment

With ammonium sulfate fertilizer, aquifer environments are protected and losses due to nitrate washing are reduced.

In relation to how and when we should add ammonium sulfate to crops, it is up to each farmer and users in general to determine it because this will depend on the general and particular conditions of their cultivation.

Where to buy ammonium sulfate?

Last update on 2021-06-08 / Affiliate Links / API Images for Affiliates

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Last update on 2021-06-08 / Affiliate Links / API Images for Affiliates